Plastic is recyclable. However, the cost of recycling it is generally more than the reclaimed value of the material, especially for mixed recyclables. So, we

Plastic is recyclable. However, the cost of recycling it is generally more than the reclaimed value of the material, especially for mixed recyclables. So, we have to do one of two things: either subsidize the recycling of plastic (e.g.: tax plastic packaging, send tax money to subsidize conversion), or switch back to segregated bins (downside: consumers put less material in). Many people have been spreading misinformation that plastic "isn't recyclable." This is not true. In California, 87% of beverage containers are recycled (thanks, bottle bill!). British Columbia enacted an "Extended Producer Responsibility" (EPR) bill that taxes plastic packaging and uses the funds to centralize and subsidize conversion of material. This resulted in the most sophisticated sortation and recycling plant in North America, located in Delta, BC, where they use laser spectrum analysis to sort plastic, shred and grind it, use high speed cameras and air puffs to sort by color, and then convert it back to usable resin. This resulted in a 56% recovery rate of all rigid plastics sold in BC. I would argue that 56% needs to improve - it would be good to get over 80% - but plastic has massive CO2 advantages over other materials, such as aluminum or glass, that are incredibly energy intensive, and anything with a 56% recycle rate blatantly disproves the idea that recycling is a myth. However, without proper public-private partnerships and good regulation, it's very hard to get high recycle rates, and that plagues much of America and other provinces of Canada, where people then throw up their hands and claim it's impossible.